Stephen Kelly sent in an excellent cross from the right and Pogrebnyak rose above everyone to firmly nod in his third goal of the season.

Five minutes before half-time, Reading stretched their lead. McCleary broke quickly from his own half and found Chabolah in space.

The recent loan signing from Chelsea took the ball first time on the half-volley to send a rasping effort past Westwood for his first Reading goal.

Federici saved superbly from a Lewis Baker piledriver but Reading swiftly reasserted their superiority after the interval.

McCleary thought that he had made it 3-0, when thundering in a shot after a lightning Reading break, but he had strayed offside.

Reading should have added a third in the 63rd minute, after Wednesday substitute Jeremy Helan brought down Pogrebnyak in the area.

But Robson-Kanu’s penalty was weak as well as poorly directed and Westwood made a comfortable save.

Wednesday did stage a late rally but Maghoma and substitute Claude Dielna wasted openings and Reading held on with ease.

“From two crosses, they scored two goals,” Owls boss Stuart Gray said. “We were then chasing the game.

“I’m so disappointed with that because, away from home, we usually defend very well. But from those two balls into the box, we got punished. It’s so disappointing the way the goals were conceded.”

Gray also called for his forwards to be more ruthless at the other end.

“They have to show more desire to get into that six-yard box,” he said. “You sometimes have to get hurt scoring goals. If it means taking man and ball and getting a few stitches, then that’s what you have to do.

“But we’re still only nine points off the play-offs so we mustn’t feel sorry for ourselves. We’ve just got to get some consistency.”

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